Technical Abstract:
There are currently 80 genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi reported to infect humans, domesticated and wild mammals, and birds. Many molecularly similar isolates cluster with particular host species and appear to be host specific such as the bovine isolates BEB1-4, and BEB 6. Others have been identified from infections in a variety of host species. For example, genotype D has been reported from humans in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Peru, Gabon, Niger, the Cameroons, and Thailand, as well as from pigs, cats, macaques, muskrats, raccoons, beavers and foxes Because these are genotypes they have no taxonomic status and do not follow any of the rules of zoological nomenclature regarding their naming or identification. This lack of a guide to follow has resulted in multiple methods of identification for different genotypes. Some isolates have received multiple names each different and in separate publications by different authors. For example, genotype D also has been reported as the following genotypes: pigEBITS9, WL8, and Peru 9. The result is that it has become complicated and difficult even for Microsporidia specialists to efficiently utilize the scientific literature because of the proliferation of genotypes of E. bieneusi, some of which have overlapping names and multiple hosts. A logical method should be devised and agreed upon for the naming of these and emerging genotypes by principal workers in the field. It is the intent of the authors to address this situation at a roundtable at the 10th meeting of the IWOP.